Wordpress Woocommerce How To Make Page Full Width

WordPress WooCommerce: How to Make Your Product Pages Full Width (Even if You’re a Beginner!)

So, you’re diving into the exciting world of WooCommerce, and you’ve built a beautiful online store. But something feels… cramped? Maybe your product images look smaller than you’d like, or you just want a more modern, expansive feel. The answer? Making your WooCommerce pages full width.

This article is your friendly guide to achieving that full-width look, even if you’re a complete WordPress newbie. We’ll break Discover insights on How To Use Woocommerce Api Keys it down into easy-to-follow steps, explaining *why* we’re doing things and providing real-world examples.

Why Full Width?

Before we jump in, let’s quickly discuss *why* you might want full-width WooCommerce pages:

Improved Visual Appeal: Full width often creates a more professional and modern look. It allows your products to take center stage, grabbing the customer’s attention. Think of a high-end clothing retailer – often, their product pages are minimalist and spacious.
Better Use of Space: Especially on larger screens, a full-width layout utilizes screen real estate more effectively, displaying larger images and more product information without feeling cluttered. Imagine displaying a high-resolution photo of handcrafted jewelry. A full-width layout allows customers to zoom in and appreciate the intricate details.
Increased Engagement: A well-designed full-width page can lead to increased engagement, as it allows you to control the user’s focus and guide them through the purchasing process. Think of it as a visual funnel leading to the “Add to Cart” button.

Understanding the Problem: Theme Structure

WordPress themes often come with pre-defined layouts. These usually include sidebars for widgets, which limit the width available for your main content, including WooCommerce pages. To make a page full width, we need to remove the sidebar or tell the theme to use a full-width template.

Method 1: Using a Full-Width Template (The Easiest Option)

Many modern WordPress themes already come with a full-width page template. This is the easiest and recommended method if available.

1. Edit the Page: Go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to *Pages > All Pages*. Find the specific WooCommerce page you want to make full width (e.g., your Shop page, single product page, cart page). Click “Edit.”

2. Look for the “Template” Option: In the right sidebar of the page editor (if you are using the classic editor) or within the Page settings (if using Gutenberg block editor), you should see a “Template” dropdown. This might also be labeled “Page Attributes.”

Classic Editor Example:

[Image of Classic Editor with Template dropdown highlighted]

Gutenberg Example:

[Image of Gutenberg editor with Page Attributes panel and Template dropdown highlighted]

3. Select “Full Width” or a Similar Template: From the dropdown, look for options like “Full Width,” “Full Width Page,” “No Sidebar,” or something similar. The exact name depends on your theme.

4. Update the Page: Click the “Update” button to save your changes.

5. Check the Result: Visit the page on your website to see the full-width layout.

Real-World Example: If you’re using the popular Astra theme, you’ll likely find a “Full Width / Contained” option or a separate “No Sidebar” template. Select that, update, and you’re good to go!

Method 2: Using a Plugin (For More Control)

If your theme doesn’t offer a built-in full-width template, or if you want more granular control, you can use a plugin. There are several options available in the WordPress repository. A popular choice is “Fullwidth Templates.”

1. Install and Activate the Plugin: In your WordPress dashboard, go to *Plugins > Check out this post: How To Get Cheap Shipping On Woocommerce Add New*. Search for “Fullwidth Templates,” install the plugin, and then activate it.

2. Edit the Page: Go back to the WooCommerce page you want to edit (Pages > All Pages).

3. Select the Full-Width Template: The plugin adds a new template option to the “Template” dropdown. Choose either “FT No Sidebar” or “FT Fullwidth Page,” depending on whether you want to remove the sidebar or create a completely blank page.

4. Update the Page: Save your changes.

5. Check the Result: Visit the page to see the full-width layout.

Check out this post: How To Remove Call For Price Woocommerce

Real-World Example: Imagine you’re using a theme that only offers a default template with a left sidebar. This plugin allows you to quickly switch to a full-width view without messing with code.

Method 3: Custom CSS (For Advanced Users – Use with Caution!)

This method is for more advanced users who are comfortable working with CSS. It involves adding custom CSS to your theme to force the page to be full width. This is less ideal than the previous methods because it can be more complex to maintain and might require some trial and error. It also relies on knowing the specific CSS classes and IDs used by your theme.

1. Identify the CSS Classes: Use your browser’s developer tools (right-click on the page and select “Inspect” or “Inspect Element”) to identify the CSS classes or IDs that control the width of the main content area and the sidebar. You’ll need to find the elements that are restricting the width.

2. Add Custom CSS: There are a few ways to add custom CSS:

WordPress Customizer: Go to *Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS*. This is the preferred method.

Child Theme: If you’re making significant CSS changes, it’s *highly recommended* to create a child theme to avoid losing your changes when the main theme updates.

Plugin: Use a plugin specifically designed for adding custom CSS.

3. Write the CSS: Use the CSS properties `width`, `margin`, and `padding` to adjust the layout. Here’s a general example (you’ll need to adjust the selectors to match your theme):

.woocommerce .site-main { /* This might be the main content area */

width: 100%;

max-width: 100%; /* Ensure it doesn’t exceed 100% */

margin: 0; /* Remove any margins */

padding: 0; /* Remove any padding */

}

.woocommerce #sidebar { /* This might be the sidebar */

display: none; /* Hide the sidebar */

}

4. Save and Check: Save your changes and refresh the page to see the results.

Real-World Example: Let’s say your theme uses `.container` to wrap the main content and restricts its width. You might use CSS like this to override it:

.woocommerce .container {

max-width: none !important; /* Override the max-width */

width: 100% !important; /* Make it full width */

padding-left: 0 !important;

padding-right: 0 !important;

}

Important: The `!important` declaration forces the style to override other styles, but use it sparingly. Overuse of `!important` can make your CSS harder to manage.

Reasoning: CSS works by applying styles based on the selectors you provide. By targeting the specific elements that control the width and display of the content and sidebar, you can override the theme’s default styles and force a full-width layout.

Method 4: Editing Theme Files (Not Recommended for Beginners!)

This is the most advanced method and not recommended for beginners. Directly editing theme files can break your website if done incorrectly. It involves modifying the PHP templates that generate your WooCommerce pages to remove sidebar elements and adjust the layout.

1. Back Up Your Website! Before making any changes, create a complete backup of your website. This is crucial in case something goes wrong.

2. Identify the Template Files: Determine which template files control the layout of your WooCommerce pages. Common files include `page.php`, `single.php`, `archive.php`, and potentially custom WooCommerce template files.

3. Create a Child Theme (Required): Never edit the original theme files directly. Create a child theme to avoid losing your changes when the parent theme is updated.

4. Copy and Modify the Template File: Copy the relevant template file from the parent theme to your child theme. Then, edit the file in your child theme to remove the code that displays the sidebar and adjust the layout accordingly.

5. Remove the Sidebar Code: Look for code that calls the `get_sidebar()` function or includes elements with classes like `sidebar` or `widget-area`. Remove these lines of code.

6. Adjust the Layout: Modify the HTML structure and CSS classes to expand the main content area to fill the full width of the page.

Example (Illustrative Only – Specific Code Varies):

 <?php /** The template for displaying all pages.
 * This is the template that displays all pages by default.
 Please note that this is the WordPress construct of pages
 and that other 'pages' on your WordPress site may use a
 different template.
 * @package YourTheme
 */

get_header(); ?>

<?php

// If comments are open or we have at least one comment, load up the comment template.

if ( comments_open() || get_comments_number() ) :

comments_template();

endif;

<?php

// Remove this line to eliminate the sidebar!

// get_sidebar();

Why Not Recommended: This method requires a solid understanding of PHP, HTML, and WordPress theme structure. It’s easy to make mistakes that can break your site.

Choosing the Right Method

Beginner: Start with Method 1 (Full-Width Template) or Method 2 (Plugin). These are the easiest and safest options.
Intermediate: If you’re comfortable with CSS, try Method 3 (Custom CSS). Be sure to use your browser’s developer tools to identify the correct CSS selectors.
Advanced: Only attempt Method 4 (Editing Theme Files) if you have a strong understanding of PHP, HTML, CSS, and WordPress theme structure.

Conclusion

Making your WooCommerce pages full width can dramatically improve their visual appeal and effectiveness. By using the methods outlined in this article, you can achieve a more modern and engaging online store, even if you’re a beginner. Remember to back up your website before making any changes, and always start with the easiest methods first. Good luck!